Thursday February 24, 2022 “Dreadlock Holiday” 10cc
“And I say, don't like Jamaica, oh no, I love her…” so yes we are heading to the island of Jamaica with today’s song.
This group, 10cc, had some of the best talent imaginable at that time. Graham Gouldman had been one of the most prolific and successful songwriters in the 60s having written hits for so many artists including The Yardbirds,Tthe Hollies, Herman's Hermits, Wayne Fontana, Jeff Beck, and Cher. But be mindful that Gouldman had a much different perspective on lyrical content than the typical boy girl songs of that moment.
Gouldman compositions include “Look Through Any Window”, “Bus Stop” and “No Milk Today” and you might check those songs as there is something just a little odd about each of them lyrically. Not surprisingly Gouldman also wrote “Dreadlock Holiday”, a reggae song about being robbed while vacationing.
Two of the other members of the band Kevin Godley and Lol Creme brought their own unusual lyrical sense to 10cc. When they both decided to leave the band and start recording as a duo, Godley & Creme had their first notable hit in the UK with “Under Your Thumb” about the ghost of a suicidal woman who returns to haunt a rail commuter contained on their album Ismism (spelling correct). They would go on to have an international top twenty hit and memorable MtV video, “Cry”.
In the age of MtV in the 80s, Godley & Creme would create over fifty noteworthy videos for artists like The Police, Peter Gabriel, Culture Club and many others.
Stay safe and well…and keep the sunblock handy.